January 17 – Anti-discrimination group Kick It Out has written a powerful letter to FIFA boss Gianni Infantino asking what action, if any, was being taken over a video posted on social media by Chelsea’s Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez last year featuring an alleged “racist and transphobic” chant against French players.
The group says if no inquiry has taken place “it points to a deeply concerning lack of transparency and accountability”.
After Argentina beat Colombia in the Copa America final, Fernández posted a video of himself and teammates chanting a song with racist and anti-gay slurs directed towards French players with African heritage.
In their letter, also sent to Conmebol, Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor wrote that his organisation had repeatedly asked FIFA and the English Football Association to say what progress was being made to investigate the incident, for which Fernández apologised, saying he had been caught up in the euphoria of his country’s Copa victory.
The French FA were so angry they filed a legal complaint condemning the chanting as “racist and discriminatory”
Reports suggests the English FA has not become involved since the incident fell under the jurisdiction of FIFA because it took place while the player was on international duty.
But it has also been justifiably pointed out that Fernandez’s comments were of a far more serious nature than those of Tottenham Hotspur’s Rodrigo Bentancur who received a seven-game ban for suggesting Spurs team-mate Son Heung-min was indistinguishable in looks from other South Korean players.
“You’ll be aware that Bentancur has recently been held accountable by the FA for making discriminatory remarks,” wrote Okafor. “Many fans have asked us why the Argentina team has not been held to account in the same manner, and fear what that means.”
“Several of the players were filmed singing a song on the team coach which was both racist and transphobic about France’s players. Midfielder Enzo Fernandez was clearly seen singing, although we recognise he was not alone in those actions as many players can be heard during the video.”
“Establishing the facts and reaching an outcome should not be an extraordinary or difficult task for organisations who want to take discrimination seriously.”
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